Misal Pav (Maharashtrian snack)

Around a month back I went for a trip to Maharashtra to see the Ashtavinayaka. I traveled to many remote villages of maharashtra and saw wonderful scenery & also really enjoyed marathi cuisine :)

I noticed they use a lot of onions in their dishes as onions are readily available. They also use a lot of spices especially red chilly. Their food is delicious and simple with not too many ingredients. They use whatever is locally available to make really tasty food & that impressed me a lot. 

Even the simplest food can taste so delicious! I never imagined!

This is one of the things that I tried out there & i recreated it at home. "MISAL PAV" 

This can also be served for evening tea.

                            

1st step: Making the Gravy:

First we will make a paste out of the following spices which will be the key ingredient of the gravy.

• Heat 2 Tsp oil in the pan.
• Add 1 tsp of ginger paste, 1 tsp of garlic paste and 2 small onions(chopped nicely)
• Saute them till the onions are golden brown.
• Add 1 chopped tomato and 3/4th cup of grated coconut to the pan. Mix well and saute for few minutes.
• Allow the mixture to cool down and then grind it into a smooth paste (in a mixer-grinder)

The Gravy:

Heat 3 tbsp of oil, add the paste we made above, & saute for 2

minutes 

Then add salt, 1-tbsp of red chilly powder, 1 tsp of ready-made garam masala powder, 1-tsp of turmeric powder, 1-tsp of cumin powder, 1-tsp of coriander powder, 1-tbsp of clove and cinnamon powder and Mix it properly.

Add a glass of water. Cook the mixture till the oil starts to seperate.

2nd Step: Preparing the "Usal" (the lentils which will be the main ingredient of Misal pav)

• Heat oil in a pan
• Add 1-tsp of ginger & garlic paste and half tsp of hing (aesofotida )
• Then add the boiled green mung sprouts (1 and a half cup) also known as mungo beans.
• Then add salt,  1-tsp turmeric, 1-tsp of limejuice , 1-tsp of cinnamon and clove powder, 1-tsp of garam masala.
• Add some water and cook for 10 mins.  Keep this Usal ready.

 3 rd and final stage:

1.Take a bowl and pour the Usal  (sprouts mixture) into it.

2.Then add some chopped onion and farsan (or) chewda to the  usal.

3. Finally add the gravy on it and serve with chopped coriander from the top.

Serve this with pav (bun bread) and chopped onions!!

~ENJOY~

PS: Many people add boiled potato along with green sprouts...but I like my Misal pav without potatoes.